Thirdly, we've hardly gotten to spend time with each other alone so we are going to leave our children at their respective homes and have dinner and shop up a storm, just like in our pre-children days.

And lastly, because retailers are pulling out all the stops to get customers through the doors in the weeks and days leading up to Christmas.

We could potentially save ourselves hundreds as a result.

Not only are Australian retailers busy competing against each other over the festive season, with this week's launch of Amazon in Australia, competition for consumer dollars has never been more fierce.

Anything that makes it more affordable to buy gifts for the 15-plus children on my list, I say.

Image: Nine Network

SUPERMARKETS

Supermarkets want you to buy all the makings of Christmas lunch at one of their locations and they are doing their best to ensure this happens.

Woolworths is offering a selected bottle of wine for just $10 for Rewards customers.

Aldi's Christmas Toy Sale begins on December 9, so while you choose a Christmas ham and anything else you plan to serve for lunch on Christmas day, you can also pick up a kid's bike or scooter from $29.95.

Image: Nine Network

FASHION RETAILERS

Most fashion retailers have sale items year round but some are offering loyal customers even more savings through further discounts, gift cards and competitions.

For example, Country Road is offering shoppers $50 off their purchases when they spend $150 and over.

Best & Less is giving their one million loyalty club customers the chance to win a $200 gift card whenever they spend $30 or more in store.

Image: Nine Network

STOCARD REWARD CARDS APP

Stocard is a brilliant app that allows you to scan in all of your loyalty cards, a digital wallet of sorts, allowing you to collect reward points more easily.

You can keep track of the loyalty cards you have and find them quickly so you can scan them in at purchase.

But Stocard is more than just a loyalty card storage app.

By turning on notifications and location services, Stocard will send you details of discounts, sales and offers when you step in to certain stores.

Major retailers have joined up with Stocard to share these offers including Myer, Priceline, Woolies and Spotlight.

Christmas anxiety and loneliness, and how you can help on this episode of Life Bites:

HOW TO SAVE REAL CASH

The trick to real savings when it comes to shopping the sales is to stick to your list.

I know it's not fun, but the second you buy something that isn't on your list, you've wasted your savings.

By sticking to your list and Christmas budget, and buy taking advantage of the best deals possible for each item, you can potentially save yourself hundreds.